Karimi's departure raised UAE profile
The UAE league became famous when Iranian professional Ali Karimi became the Asian footballer of the year in 2004 while he was playing with Al Ahli club in Dubai.
The UAE league became famous when Iranian professional Ali Karimi became the Asian footballer of the year in 2004 while he was playing with Al Ahli club in Dubai.
Football League
- Abu Dhabi clubs will hold sway
- Karimi's departure raised UAE profile
- Foreign pros begin their climb to fame here
- Bu Jsaim not in favour of foreign referees
- Dubai clubs boosted by new regulations
- Bundesliga coaches are in big numbers
- Al Shaab could suffer as best players leave
- UAE clubs go abroad
- Al Ain have a tough season ahead
Also the Al Ain striker Abu Bakr Sanogo of the Ivory Coast contributed in raising the profile of the UAE league when he signed for German club Kaizerslautern.
Now the UAE players themselves are knocking on the door of professional football. Two players from Al Shaab club, Rashid Abdul Rahman and Mohammad Suroor, and one from Dubai club, Obaid Al Taweela, are going to turn professional in Switzerland and many others will follow.
Most of the UAE players are amateurs but FIFA regulations have made it free for them to sign for any club outside the UAE without the approval of their clubs.
Most of the professionals (foreign players) were changed in the First division clubs. The UAE FA regulations allow each club to sign and play with two foreign players. Only the clubs who play in the Asian champions league or GCC tournament are permitted to sign with three players because their regulations allow it.
League champions Al Wahda signed Brazilian Fabio Juniors in place of Tony from Ivory Coast and renewed the contract of the Bosnian Metrovic. Al Ain signed three new players two from Panam, Luis Tejada and Alberto Blanco and one Nigerian, Noah Anokashi who played last season with Al Khaleej of KhorFakkan.
Al Jazira lost one of their best players when Moretto of Angola left to play in the Qatar league.
However, they kept their other professional Ebrahima Diyaki of Ivory Coast who was the best foreign player last season. They are hoping to sign Nigerian Bato Ojatsha before the league kicks off.
Al Wasl have kept faith in Iranian striker Farhad Majidi for the sixth season. They also signed Brazilian Alexander Oliviera and Bahraini Hussain Salman for the GCC tournament. Al Shaab kept Ali Samra of Iran and signed Fernadez of Argentina.
Emirates kept Alison Pasarea of Columbia and signed Moroccan Karim Karkar who played for Dubai club last season.
Bani Yas signed Oscar Alijandro of Columbia and are looking for their second professional. Diba Al Hesn signed Marcos Fabiany of Brazil and Richard Bohomo of Cameroon.
